Radiation checks lessened at mine: Greens

The Greens say standards for radiation monitoring at the Olympic Dam mine owned by BHP Billiton have been watered down by the South Australian Government.

SA Greens MP Mark Parnell says documents he has obtained under freedom of information raise serious concerns about how often testing for radiation occurs at the mine in outback SA.

He says reports provided to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) by BHP Billiton lack detail about radiation exposure for people working in areas of the uranium and copper mine where the risk is highest.

"Up until 2006 there were between four and eight reports per month of exceedences if you like or dangerous levels - those reports have now faded away to only one in the last 18 months," he said.

Mr Parnell says tougher reporting standards are needed.

"Our criticism here is of the Government because it's the Government that sets the standards for radiation monitoring," he said.

"BHP Billiton will only do what the Government makes them do. If the Government waters down the standards then it's their responsibility if workers are being put at risk."

But the EPA says there has been no lowering of BHP Billiton's reporting standards.

It says, while the company used to provide monthly summaries of some data, all the information is now in quarterly reports, as well as one-off reports if radiation exceeds trigger levels.

Keith Baldry from the EPA says all the results are being reported adequately.

"It's part of our work to oversee the standards there and we're confident that all of the workers are adequately protected and that BHP are actually doing a good job of protecting the workers from the radiation."